{"id":11937,"date":"2021-02-17T13:09:46","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T13:09:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fineart-restoration.co.uk\/?p=11937"},"modified":"2022-12-14T09:49:12","modified_gmt":"2022-12-14T09:49:12","slug":"cartography-conservation-restoring-maps-and-historic-geography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fineart-restoration.co.uk\/news\/cartography-conservation-restoring-maps-and-historic-geography\/","title":{"rendered":"Cartography conservation: restoring maps and historic geography"},"content":{"rendered":"

The history of cartography is the history of human exploration, making sense of the world in pursuit of science and political boundaries. Geography also plays a part in artistic or personal endeavours, in the creation of satirical or creative map-making, or the recording of family history.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"AmericasAbove: before and after the restoration of an antique map by our paper conservator<\/em><\/h6>\n

Early cartography dates back to ancient civilisations. One of the oldest world maps called the \u201cImago Mundi\u201d or \u201cBabylonian Map\u201d, dates back to between 700 and 500 BC and was carved in stone. The culturally diverse and highly scientific history of map making is profound with an ever-evolving understanding of the globe, with further details of the Americas or \u201cnew world\u201d allowing such documents to grow in complexity from the 15th century onwards, most often printed or drawn on paper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MapAbove: a detail from a 1575 map of Alexandria<\/em><\/h6>\n

Antique maps have broad appeal at auction, these historically interesting pieces create a talking point with their remarkably accurate, or inaccurate, interpretations of the world. Their adventurous attraction makes them so popular that in 2010 the British Library exhibition entitled \u201cMagnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda and Art\u201d was their most popular exhibition to date, attracting around 227,000 visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"RomeAbove: a plan of Rome by Antonio Tempesta, published by Giovanni Domenico de Rossi in 1645<\/em><\/h6>\n

However, collectible cartography is not limited to world maps, in this area you may also come across vast amounts of artwork and documentation, including city plans, regional landscapes, surveys, personal maps, educational tools, train lines, wartime documents and astronomical or star maps.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"DurerAbove: a detail from a celestial map of the northern hemisphere by Albrecht D\u00fcrer, 1515<\/em><\/h6>\n

Cartography can also be sentimentally valuable, with personal connections forming with well-used maps from road trips and holidays, documents from a life of travel, or even geographical works which share connections with a client\u2019s family or childhood. These works on paper can be historic or contemporary, with even modern day maps being personally significant enough to be displayed alongside other artworks or photographs in a home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"MapAbove: a detail from a map of North America by Matth\u00e4us Seutter depicting the wildlife and topography of the landscape, 1730<\/em><\/h6>\n

These important pieces are most often found on paper, which is one of the most vulnerable materials. Dangers which paper may face include:<\/span><\/p>\n